Qualitative and quantitative analysis of bacterial aerosols in dental clinical settings: Risk exposure towards dentist, auxiliary staff, and patients
Anmol Mathur, Manish Jain, Aditi Mathur, Pravin U Mukhi, Mahesh Ahire, Chadrashekhar Pingal
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cross-infection or contamination are the major threats related to any medical profession. Microorganisms present in the dental clinic can cause cross-infection to the dentist, auxiliary staff and even towards the patients. AIMS: The study was conducted to assess the level of atmospheric microbial contamination and composition of aerosols before, during and after dental treatment procedures in four clinical settings. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The present study was conducted over a two-week period in a private dental college setting. An equal number of culture medium plates (blood agar) were placed 30 min prior to the initiation of work sessions in the selected area and 1 h after the working session began and after 2 h of cessation of the working period. After the collection of samples, the culture medium plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C in an incubator for 48 h. The number of colonies was expressed as colonies per media plate. After counting the colonies bacterial cell morphology was determined by a microscopic examination using a Reichert-Jung Series 150 light microscope. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis such as ANOVA test for mean values and post hock was done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: 2%. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that aerosols increase during and after work sessions and, therefore, increases the chance for infectious agent transmission in clinical settings.